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Our Aussie Christmas!

An Aussie Christmas takes some getting used to for those of us born and brought up in colder climes...

'It just doesn't feel like Christmas!'

we used to cry...

It is crazy busy towards the end of November and early December. Whoever planned Christmas and end of the school year together, had to be not thinking straight...

My Aussie friends go for very few holiday decorations and minimal fuss. Why bother decorating the entire house when you leave for your summer holidays on Boxing Day or shortly after, and don’t come back till school starts at the end of January?

An Aussie Christmas and the beach beckons!

We start getting into the Christmas spirit mid December by arranging to meet the neighbours in a local park, BYO chairs, wine and nibbles. The whole street is invited, over thirty houses, and no-one has to clean up before everyone arrives. We are lucky that we have three parks at all ends of our street AND to have the weather that allows for this with a reasonable degree of certainty!

2013 Street Party
It did get more exciting than pretzels and coconut water I promise,
but I was chatting so much I forgot to get the camera out!

Christmas Carols In The Gardens is another must-do local event. Everyone brings their picnics and enjoys a good sing-a-long and as the sunsets we light candles and wave them around...Luckily nothing ever seems to catch on fire and we go home singing...

'We wish you a Merry Christmas'

Everyone turns out for carols in the Gardens!

The Christmas tree lights twinkle away but if it doesn't get dark to 10pm then you hardly notice...In fact there is a whole sorry tale to tell about 'Our bare and wilted Christmas Tree'(Post December 22nd) which is still looking a tad sad, after Australian quarantine impounded half our Chrissy decorations as a threat to National security...

There is something about warmer weather, combined with this Aussie laid back style that gives an Aussie Christmas a relaxed feel... Says the woman who didn't cook the turkey this year... Lucky us, we were invited round to a friends house, it was one of those lovely invites with an Aussie twist:

"Come for Christmas and bring your bathers'

The pool beckons on Christmas Day...

Well call me old fashioned, but I would probably rather cook turkey for the entire city of Melbourne than get into my swimsuit on Christmas Day. That puts a whole new meaning to the

'Are you ready for Christmas?'

question... And such was the concern about such a prospect that I think I was the only one in town secretly hoping for lousy weather on December 25th.

Well I obviously had been naughty this year as Santa ignored that request. The day was bright and sunny and probably the nicest Christmas Day weather that we've ever had since moving Down Under.

St Kilda foreshore

Boxing Day we headed to Melbourne's most famous beach at St Kilda for lunch on the foreshore. St Kilda is a bohemian seaside resort and there is always something interesting going on there. We watched fascinated as paddle boarders paddled on past and people with jet packs on their backs were blasted out of the water, it looked a lot of fun, but hard to get a decent photo of!

Luna Park - St Kilda

It was lovely down at the beach and quieter than it may otherwise have been on account of nearly 92,000 people, a world record number heading to the 'G to watch Australia V England for the traditional Boxing Day Test. Cricket is booming here and everyone keen to see Australia win on home soil following the disastrous European test series. This sudden turn around of events could have Australia winning all the Test matches Down Under this summer. You've got to admit Australian's love their sport and Melbourne makes a great sporting capital!

The Boxing Day Test is part of an iconic Melbourne Christmas!

Our Family Christmas tradition is to go to the cricket on Day Two of the Test match. Usually to avoid the crowds, but we were not alone on Friday, there were 76,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground…

A world record cricket crowd at the MCG to see Australia v's England

Thank Goodness we didn't go to the Cricket today! It has been 38 degrees, we were hot inside with the blinds down and the aircon on. The gingerbread house, glued together with melted white chocolate, collapsed by 10.30am!

The gingerbread house is not the only thing to collapse in the heat!

And then before we know it Christmas is over, the Test Cricket is into the final day but we have plenty to look forward to, the beach beckons and the reason were not going anywhere Melbourne is gearing up for the Australian Open Tennis. Never a dull moment here!

Linked to Blue Monday. Wishing all the Blue Monday bloggers a very Happy New Year!

Please pop over by to see Sally and the other Blue Monday participants if you can!

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Hello dear friends in Blogland. How are you doing?
I am pleased to be here for Friendship Friday
I've had a great week and have well and truly settled back into my Asian life
where I am enjoying making new friends both locally and in here in the blogosphere.

I've had fun, I have joined a new group - the American Women's Club of Thailand.
Why the American's when you're a British Aussie? You may well ask. Well firstly they take anyone, these Expat women's groups really are not that fussy!

Well, except for the ANZWG Group where you need to be closely associated with Australia and New Zealand. I am, I have the passport and I have a family, home and of course an Aussie Crazy Poodle Down Under and I miss my Melbourne life terribly, but my life in Thailand is more about meeting women from around the globe.

I have always had lots of American friends, I chat with many Americans via my blog...

... anyway they let this little bird in and she's chirpy about that! The…